Carrier
The insurer bears the insurance risk under the policy. Identify the legal insurer, not just a program brand.
Read about carriersInsurance market guide
Admitted Insurance Carrier.
An admitted insurance carrier holds authority from a state insurance regulator to transact specified insurance in that state. Admitted status is state and entity specific. It does not establish that Hedge is appointed, that a product is active, or that a particular account is eligible.
Transaction role
Follow the function, not the label.
The carrier is the risk-bearing insurer and issues policies under the authority and regulatory framework applicable to its admitted business.
Confirm the responsibility
Ask who can quote, who can bind, who issues the policy and who handles service. Those responsibilities depend on the specific agreement and program, not just the company label.
Practical broker checklist
Choosing an admitted market
- Identify the insurer issuing the policy and confirm the product is available in the risk's state.
- Compare the proposed coverage, exclusions, deductible and service arrangements against the account's requirements.
- Confirm the producer relationship and submission channel before sending an application.
An illustrative account
An agency has a carrier relationship for personal lines but needs commercial property. Confirm commercial product access for the location and occupancy; the existing relationship alone does not answer that question.
This is a hypothetical preparation example, not an actual placement or a promise of coverage.
Compare the related excess and surplus lines carrier roleThe roles in one placement
Who does what?
MGA or MGU
A delegated underwriting business may evaluate and accept accounts within the insurer's agreed authority. The labels overlap; the agreement determines the scope.
Read about MGAsRead about MGUsWholesale broker
The intermediary helps the retail agent prepare and place the account with an underwriting market. A brokerage role alone does not confer underwriting authority.
Read about wholesale brokersEvidence
Signals worth verifying.
Authority signals
- State certificate of authority
- Approved product and state availability
- Appointment or producer authorization where required
- Actual underwriting and binding instructions
Access questions
- Which exact legal entity writes the policy?
- Is the entity admitted for this product and state?
- Is Hedge appointed and activated for the relevant product?
- What route, code, and binding authority apply?
False confidence
What does not prove access.
- A parent-company relationship
- A public appetite page
- A portal login without product activation
- A quote from a different entity, state, or program
Primary reference: NAIC insurance glossary
Next action
Discuss the account with Hedge.
Start with the operations, location, requested coverage and the facts making placement difficult. Check appetite or send the account through Hedge's secure submission process for review.